Bodkin / Patterns

McPhail CdC Olive Quill

Dry Fly · Trout · Intermediate · 1 version

Reference Recipe

  • Hook standard dry fly, 14-18
  • Thread olive 8/0

Materials

  • Coq de Leon or dun hackle fibers Medium dun hackle fibers (tail bunch)
  • Stripped peacock quill Olive-dyed stripped peacock quill (1 (body))
  • CDC feathers Olive/natural dun cdc feathers (1-2 (wing/legs))
  • UV resin Clear uv resin (thin coat, optional)

How to tie it

  1. Catch in a small bunch of stiff dun or Coq de Leon tail fibers at the bend, slightly splayed, one shank long.
  2. Tie in a stripped, olive-dyed peacock quill by its fine tip and wrap it forward in touching turns to the 65% mark for a segmented body; tie off.
  3. Optionally brush a whisper of UV resin over the quill and cure to armor it.
  4. Stack the tips of one or two olive CDC feathers and tie them in as an upright wing one shank long at 65%; post the base with a couple of thread turns.
  5. Wind a further CDC feather (or a short-fibered dun hackle) 3-4 turns around the wing base for legs, sweeping the fibers to the sides.
  6. Build a small head, whip finish, and add a tiny drop of cement clear of the CDC.

Tying videos

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